New Winter Ball in play this weekend.

[E.G.Red]

The Puma Hi Vis football will be in use for all EFL games starting with tonights  Leicester v Leeds fixture. The ball will be used for ALL games until mid February. Not just as in previous seasons low light/poor visibility.

Edited November 3, 2023 by E.G.Red

[elhombrecito]

It always used to be the case, in the Mitre days, that the high Vis ball was used throughout the winter, regardless of the weather.

[22A]

Being cynacal, this is a marketing ploy with Christmas coming up and children requesting a foot ball.

Players, officials and spectators always managed with brown footballs. When white was introduced, brown ones would be used in snowy conditions. 

[Red_Alligator]

Ah, the orange ball. Those were the days...

[Red Army 75]

Just now, Red_Alligator said:

Ah, the orange ball. Those were the days...

Being colour blind, orange balls in any sport for me is a nightmare. Especially golf. Saying that I lose plenty of white ones too. 

[Cowshed]

54 minutes ago, 22A said:

Being cynacal, this is a marketing ploy with Christmas coming up and children requesting a foot ball.

Players, officials and spectators always managed with brown footballs. When white was introduced, brown ones would be used in snowy conditions. 

The markings on the ball are not necessary. Ever hear of a company who introduced a high vis ball to a top flight league and had to scrap it because players couldn't see it properly. The league was La Liga and the company was Puma, the ball lasted one week of matches. 

Fifa approved it, Puma hadn't tested a high visibility ball for its visibility. The markings and the pink looked lovely versus Spain's notoriously harsh snowy winters!!

[pongo88]

52 minutes ago, Red_Alligator said:

Ah, the orange ball. Those were the days...

Those were the days indeed. Pitches caked in compressed snow, players falling over and an orange ball. (Players didn’t wear gloves either in those days. It won’t be long before they start wearing scarves and balaclava hats) 

Edited November 3, 2023 by pongo88

[Lanterne Rouge]

1 hour ago, pongo88 said:

Those were the days indeed. Pitches caked in compressed snow, players falling over and an orange ball. (Players didn’t wear gloves either in those days. It won’t be long before they start wearing scarves and balaclava hats) 

Mick Harford looking on?

[kmpowell]

1 hour ago, pongo88 said:

Those were the days indeed. Pitches caked in compressed snow, players falling over and an orange ball. (Players didn’t wear gloves either in those days. It won’t be long before they start wearing scarves and balaclava hats) 

The Adidas Tango! 

I remember as a kid saving up and buying a pack for my Subbuteo set in the late 80's.

[Erithacus]

Football scientists tells us that the 'hi-vis' ball is easier to see in the gloom of winter, but I can't believe that standard white is not just as good. The timing of the change as the clocks turm back does seem to smack of marketing, with Crimbo just around the corner. Note the Toolstation league has yellow balls all season these days.

What also irks me is the amount of 'designs' now plastered over balls. They can be so intrusive that I am sure they affect their use (I can't kick a ball of any type properly, but I suspect the pros may struggle too). When you recall some of the really awful stuff that European football has come out with in recent years I was surprised there wasn't a protest. Do you remember the one that was sparkly silver but actually looked like lead? Terrible to watch on TV.